Styles of Beards by wbmc

The 2017 World Beard and Moustache Championships are coming to Austin, Texas Sep. 1–3 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. The three-day competition, hosted by the Austin Facial Hair Club, will attract beard enthusiasts from around the world including more than 1,000 international competitors and thousands of fans. Every two years, the WBMC showcases the very best in men’s and women’s whiskers and unites beards in a cultural event like no other. Projected to be the largest competition to date, the three-day event will include live entertainment.The intent of this article is to give some idea of the many styles of facial hair possible . This organization has categorized styles following international standards and uses them as divisions in their international competitions held in different locations throughout the year.

Styles Classification by WBMC :WBMC defines three categories of facial hair... Moustaches [European spelling], Partial Beards and Full Beards. Each of these categories is further broken down into styles appropriate to that category.

1 - mustaches :The Moustaches category includes any number of styles for solo mustaches. The categories for WBMC competitions are named in the following post titles and several of the more popular styles not singled out for competition are included in the Freestyle category style.

Keep in mind that the many of us do not sport mustaches in some of these competition styles. Therefore, we would expect to have few, if any, examples to show for these.

- mustaches natural :WBMC Definition: Moustache may be styled but without aids such as wax or spray. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

- mustaches Imperial or Handlebar:WBMC Definition: Small and bushy with tips arching up, The hairs are only allowed to start growing up to the end of the upper lip. Aids such as wax or spray are allowed. Most would consider this style to be similar to a handlebar mustache The ends curl up, it has a thicker growth and is a full style. It requires some dedication with the daily use of waxes and other products to keep the tips arched upward.

- Moustache Hungarian :WBMC Definition: Big and bushy, beginning from teh middle of the upper lip and pulled to the side. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip. Aids such as waxes and sprays are allowed. We might consider this style to be where the tips of the mustache hang out and above the sides. When styled in this way over a full beard, it gives a nice 3D effect to the mustache.

- Moustaches English :WBMC Definition: Slender, beginning from teh middle of the upper lip with the hairs extremely long and pulled to the side. Tips may be lifted slightly. The hairs are only allowed to start growing up to the end of the upper lip. Aids such as waxes and sprays are allowed.

We might consider this style to be a narrower rendition of the Hungarian style. This style doe not appear to be that popular outside of competitions.

2 - Partial Beards :The Partial Beards category includes any number of styles for carved facial hair. The categories for WBMC competitions are named in the following post titles and several of the more popular styles that are not singled out for competition are included in the beard board Other category style. Keep in mind that many of us do not sport partial beards quite the same as shown in some of these competition styles.

- Partial Beards Natural:WBMC Definition: Facial hair grown only on chin, upper and lower lip. Beard and moustache may be styled but without aids. Aids [products] are not allowed. Moustache is not required.

This style is called the Circle Beard when chin hair connects directly with mustache and Van Dyke when there is a gap between mustache and chin hair.

- Partial Beards Sideburns : WBMC Definition: All sideburns with shaved chin. Aids [products] are allowed. Sideburns can be at any length and as they get longer and especially connect to the mustache, they become Mutton Chops.There is no facial hair under the lip for this style.

- Partial Beards Imperial or Mutton Chops :WBMC Definition: Hair is grown only on the cheeks and upper lip. Moustache is integreated and the ends must point upward and not be curled over. Aids [products] are allowed.Some may consider the longer sideburns to be considered Mutton Chops and indeed with or without the mustache, the longer and wider sideburns could be considered Mutton Chops.

- Partial Beards Fu Manchu :WBMC Definition: Chin shaved with moustache allowed to start to grow up to a maximum of 2 cm beyond and below the end of the upper lip. Tips are long and pulled down. Aids [products] are allowed.The Fu Manchu frames the mouth in the shape of a horseshoe and can create a dramatic effect with a longer length. I can also be cut close to the skin and allowed to grow under the chin in the same narrow band of hair.

- Partial Beards Musketeer :

WBMC Definition: Moustache long and slender. Hairs are allowed to start growing from up to maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

- Partial Beards Chinstrap and Chin Curtain :The Chinstrap is a very narrow band of hair that starts from the sideburn, extends along the jawline and returns on the other side to that sideburn. The width is generally 1/2" to 1" in width. It is generally not worn with a mustache. This style can be a bit of work to maintain.The Chin Curtain beard is similar to Chinstrap, except it is much wider. Both of these styles are popular with younger guys who do not have yet the maturity of their cheek coverage.

- Partial Beards Balbo :

The Balbo beard consists of a wide Goatee with Soulpatch, partial Chin Curtain and Mustache. Often, the mustache is worn with the handlebar style. The chin curtain extends back at least 2" further than a goatee but can extend most of the way along the jawline. This style is a good choice for the younger guys who do not have all of their coverage along the jawline.

- Partial Beards Riker :The Riker style is also known as the Short Boxed beard and is similar to a Fullbeard that has been carefully sculpted on the sides but leaving a very wide Chin Curtain. This provides a very intentional look with the cheek line and can work well for guys who are lacking coverage high on the sides.

3 - Beard Styles Full Beards :The Full Beards category includes any number of styles for full coverage of facial hair. The categories for WBMC competitions are named in the following post titles and several of the more popular styles not singled out for competition are included in a beard board Other category style.

- Full Beards Natural : WBMC Definition: As grown, moustache integrated. No aids [products] allowed. This is the main event. No tips pointed upward, nothing narrow and pointed. Length is important, but not everything. Mass, density, shape, color and overall impression all count.

This style lets all parts of the beard grow... mustache, cheeks, chin, neck and goatee. This is probably the most popular style because it is easy to grow, requiring only patience and coverage. It can be worn to any length but that length is generally the same for all the hairs growing off the chin.

- Full Beards Styled Moustache :WBMC Definition: As grown, only moustache can be styled with aids and may start growing from up to maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

- Full Beards Verdi :

WBMC Definition: Short, length not to exceed 10 cm, and round. Moustache must be styled. Aids [products] are allowed. The Verdi beard is well-groomed, closely trimmed, highly stylish and sophisticated.This style is usually worn short [trimmed], rounded along the bottom and has a full mustache that often turns up on the ends.

- Full Beards Garibaldi :WBMC Definition: Broad, full and round. Length not to exceed 20 cm, moustache integrated. Aids [products] are not allowed. The Garibaldi beard is a bold full beard, longer than the Verdi but shorter than most beards in the natural category.The large rounded shape of the half circle of hair gives a rather wide looking beard.

- Full Beards Spade :

The Spade beard style emphasizes length in the front with the goatee and less length toward the neck. Often the jawline hair is tapered from the longer goatee hair in the front to a shorter length toward the ear. In some cases this tapering is so steep, that this lower hair line is parallel to the cheek line. This style can give the effect of a longer beard when viewed from either the front or side.

- Full Beards Yeard :The Yeard is a full or natural beard that has been grown to length for one year with little or no trimming. The contribution of the neck beard and provide substantial bulk to the look of this style from the side view.